Swiftwater Operations

This course is for people who work or play around moving water but do not require the standard-of-care technician-level course.

Swiftwater Operations is designed to provide basic information on techniques and equipment for responding to river and flood rescues. The emphasis of the class is on fast, low-tech and improvised rescue techniques to assess and perform low-risk, shore-based river rescues and how to evaluate and protect the scene.

Professional guides, fish and wildlife personnel, park service employees, and private boaters will find this course applicable to their needs. DFO, Parks, Fire and Rescue personnel should take NFPA-compliant Swiftwater Rescue Technician 1 (SRT1) in order to attain the legal standard-of-care in Canada and worldwide.

Duration: 2 days (1/2 day classroom, 1 1/2 days on-river)

Cost: $299.00

Course Content

  • Rescue instruction philosophy & "absolutes"
  • Rescuer safety
  • Water dynamics & river hazards
  • Search
  • Training, personal & team equipment
  • Size-up
  • Pre-planning
  • Management, organization & ICS
  • On-scene safety briefing & site control
  • On-river communications
  • Survival swim
  • Throw bags
  • Shallow water crossing & entrapment drill
  • Log/strainer swim
  • Intro to ropes, knots & technical gear

 

Prerequisites:

  • 18 years of age or older
  • basic swimming ability
  • in good physical condition